Preston to Thornaby (or Stockton)

[SSp]

Hi,
I'm travelling tomorrow, returning Thursday. Most likely to be travelling off-peak but I'm planning on using Northern's direct Preston to Leeds on the outbound which is unrestricted (via Burnley, to be purchased through to York.)

The main problem seems to be then northbound from York in terms of cost, is there any way to bring this down without advance tickets? Not averse to buses..

 

[yorkie]

Use Grand Central to Eaglescliffe, is that an option?

 

[mikeg]

I agree with yorkie on the subject of grand central. Fares around here tend to be expensive. The 'not via Darlington' fares aren't actually that bad compared to some of the others. Pax from thirsk for example pay almost as much as those from York on one of these tickets. Off peak returns are available not via Darlington for many flows too, just not anytime.

 

[mikeg]

Oh and if you intend to do any further bus travel a plubus ticket will cost a quite a bit more than a single but Eaglescliffe Middlesbrough Thornaby and Stockton plusbus is as it's name suggests valid in quite a wide area.

 

[yorkie]

I did a search using Trainsplit departing around 1030 outward tomorrow and 1800 return on Thursday, and it found an itinerary departing 1047 from Preston, arriving Eaglescliffe 1403, and departing Eaglescliffe at 1817, arriving Preston 2139.

It suggested not just splitting at York, but also splitting at Northallerton. This is to enable the use of TPE, changing at Leeds and Northallerton. Only the Northallerton to Eaglescliffe section of the journey would be restricted to Grand Central, and that's worth it for only a little extra cost. The overall saving is over £20.

If you just split at York, you would not meet minimum interchange times, as the minimum interchange time at Northallerton (same station interchange) is shorter than at York.

 

[SSp]

Thanks all. (I lived previously in Leeds for 8 years and travelled west maybe ten times more than east/Northeast due to these fares!)